Marianne Wilkinson case 2007

December 23, 2013

A man who had been a “person of interest” in the 2007 murder of a 68-year-old woman in North Richland Hills, was shot to death Sunday night in Oklahoma City, police said.

Whitley Bowley, believed to be in his mid 30s, was gunned down in what police believe was domestic disturbance turned violent at a home in the 14000 block of Scott Street, said Lt. Kevin Parton, spokesman for Oklahoma City police.

Investigator Keith Bauman, police spokesman in North Richland Hills, confirmed Monday that Bowley was one of a three men who were considered persons of interest in the death of Marianne Wilkinson (shown here) on Dec. 9, 2007.

Wilkinson, 68, was shot to death while answering the doorbell at her home in the 8400 block of Spence Court in North Richland Hills, a possible case of mistaken identity.

Taylor’s wife, with whom he was going through a divorce at the time of Wilkinson’s death, lived in a home with the same address number on a parallel cul-de-sac — one block away from the Wilkinson home.

Lt. Parton said he learned from media in Oklahoma City that Bowley had been a person of interest in the Texas cold case.

He said Bowley’s girlfriend called 911 at about 8:30 p.m. to report that he had been beating her and she shot him.

“She took the magazine out of the gun, set it down and went outside to meet with police,” Parton said.

The woman cooperated with officers who questioned her, but there were no arrests on Sunday, Parton said.

The case will be submitted to a district attorney, who will decide whether to prosecute the woman, Parton said.